DoD News

News Article

America Supports You: Kids Care Too

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2005  Two superheroes came to the Pentagon today to show that they care about the military. Well, America's kids care too.

Marvel Comic action hero Captain America autographs a copy of the new armed forces comic book while Spiderman meets with children at the Pentagon on April 28. Marvel Comics unveiled a custom comic book for members of the Armed Services that will be distributed to more than 150,000 servicemembers in the Middle East. Photo by Tech Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby, USAF(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

American children care about the military members serving in Iraq and other places of the world because children know the troops protect all of us. Kids in America want the military to be safe and happy.

For instance, the nation's Girl Scouts show they care when cookie-selling time comes around. Many Girl Scout troops donate cookies for soldiers to enjoy, and other troops use some money they earn selling cookies to support the United Service Organizations.

Here at the Pentagon, dozens of kids -- many with military moms or dads -- lined up to meet two well-known superheroes, Spiderman and Captain America, who came here to show they care about the troops.

Today at the Pentagon, I met a girl named Kaitlin Lee, who's 11. She said the military is like our superheroes, and it's important "to help out and show them that we care."

Kaitlin's little brother, Josh, who's 6, even said it's "cool, really cool" that the superheroes were supporting the troops.

My own 6-year-old sister, Lexi, understands how important the troops are to our country. "Without the soldiers, the bad guys could just come into our homes and hurt us," she said.

It just shows America loves the good guys -- both action heroes and those serving in Iraq and all around the world.

(Monica Ollander is the 12-year-old daughter of American Forces Press Service writer Kathleen Rhem. Monica and her other sister, Maggie, spent the day in the Pentagon with their mother for the national Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day.)